Exuberant residents celebrated the reopening of the rehabilitated D3715 road from Muduluni to Tshikwarani (Tshikgodobo) on 23 April.
The D3715 project, under tender T1421, was awarded to Moreje Construction. The company was contracted to rehabilitate the road over six months at a cost of about R22 million, starting in February. Although it was a six-month contract, the contractor completed the first phase of the work in just three months.
The chairperson of the Zoutpansberg Development Forum, Mr Patrick Sikhutshi, said the road would make life easier for Kutama residents. He said they were excited about the government’s commitment to improving conditions in rural communities, but that more still needed to be done in the next phase of the project.
“We are worried about the poor state of the remaining 5 km stretch of road, which is also filled with potholes. It is becoming difficult for buses and taxis to ferry commuters,” he said. “It took the government a very long time to finally answer our pleas, but now we appreciate the good work the contractor has done. They worked at a satisfactory pace.”
Kutama resident Mr Tshifhiwa Sadiki said he had used the old, potholed road for many years. He said the poor condition of the road had damaged many vehicles.
“I started using this road years ago,” he said. “Some people could not go into town to work or arrived late because the road was in such a bad condition. Cars had to move very slowly.”
Taxi driver Mr Ntshenge Mamburu said having a proper main road was a major victory for motorists and residents in the area.
“Even pupils had a hard time using this road because the people who transported them to and from school always complained about the road’s condition. I am very happy now that the community does not have to worry about the road when it rains heavily anymore,” he said.